M3gan (2023)

The creepy doll genre has been around a long time.  The earliest example I'm aware of is 1945's Dead of Night, but I wouldn't be surprised if earlier films exist.  After all, dolls are creepy.  The uncanny valley appearance, the blank eyes (Quint describes a shark with the line, "Like doll's eyes," during his monolog in Jaws), and the fact that you might never know if they're moving behind your back makes them perfect characters for a horror film.

Now, creepy dolls get an upgrade in M3gan, the latest film from Blumhouse and Atomic Monster.  The titular toy is an AI toy capable of learning, and given the Mircosoft AI chatbot that learned to be racist on Twitter back in 2016, you have to expect some killer doll mayhem.

The film starts as Cody (Violet McGraw, Black Widow, Doctor Sleep) is with her parents driving to a skiing trip.  Things go very bad, as her parents die in a collision with a snow plow.  Her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams, Get Out) is given custody of her, but is ill-equipped to deal with a child.  Her career at Funki toys has consumed her life, especially her work on Model 3 Generative Android, a life-sized doll that she believes will be the toy every kid, and parent, will want.  Her boss David (Ronny Chieng, Godzilla vs. Kong, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) isn't convinced and tells her to discontinue the project.  But Gemma decides Cody needs M3gan, and completes working on the robot in her workshop.

Um, I'm remembering a line from a movie with dinosaurs right now.

Cody and M3gan are instant BFFs, but Gemma's directive to M3gan that she protect her niece from all harm, physical and emotional, results in M3gan going, shall we say, a bit overboard.

And, as I mentioned above, mayhem ensues.

Okay, the film is a hit and whatever I say won't change that.  The dance routine became an Internet sensation and a viral marketing tool, M3gan became a gay icon, and a sequel has been announced for 2025.  But I found the film a bit meh-gan.

Okay, that was a bad pun.  But it's no reason for violence.

Look, I'm not saying the film is bad.  It's well acted, with McGraw and Williams delivering great performances.  Cody's attachment to M3gan feels real, as does the third act change in Gemma and Cody's relationship.  It works, without becoming saccharine sweet.  Amie Donald (Sweet Tooth) is amazing as M3gan, keeping her movement robotic enough to remind you she's not human, while fluctuating between innocent and menacing.  And M3gan's voice actor, Jenna Davis, is equally impressive, as she's able to express M3gan's growing intelligence without losing the robotic nature in her voice.  And when the script allow M3gan to be creepy, it works so well.  I just wish the film had more scenes of her being scary, not violent.

But that's the problem with the script.  When M3gan is creepy, the film works.  But the script focuses on too many obvious jump scares, and it weakens what could have been a really great horror film.  Look, jump scares have been a part of horror cinema since 1942's Cat People, but are often telegraphed to any fan of horror to make them ineffective when overused. 

And, I have to bring this it up, it's hard to believe Gemma never heard of the three laws of robotics.  Created by Isaac Asimov in the 40's, the laws would have prevented most of the mayhem, or brought up some interesting questions that might have made for a better film.  

Before I go into why this approach might have worked, here's a basic rundown of the three laws for those who don't know them.  And no, don't start Goggling the Will Smith movie.  That movie is as awful as I am Legend.

Good thing I studied dance, not law.

Anyway, the first law forbid a robot from injuring a human, or through inaction, allow a human to be harmed.  Second, a robot must obey the orders given by a human except when such orders could conflict with the previous law.  And, finally, a robot must protect its existence, as long as it doesn't conflict with the previous laws.

Okay, let's talk about M3gan causing the death of a bully tormenting Cody.  Hey, no spoiler, it's in the trailer.  Had M3gan been programmed with something like Asimov's three laws, it could allow the script to bring up some interesting ideas concerning AI.  Because M3gan is programmed to learn, her growing intellect might have seen causing the bully's death to be the only way to protect Cody from future harm, which is part of the three laws. Such an approach could have elevated the film beyond the simple slasher troupes and made it more timely, given humanity's continued attempt to create an AI being.

Or maybe it's me overthinking a popcorn flick.  Not like that hasn't happened.

Yes, Chris, you're overthinking things.  Go back to enjoying Alligator II: The Mutation.

Another point of contention for fans is the film was planned to be an R-rated feature, but was reshot to earn a PG-13 rating.  I'm sure lots of horror fans were all in for more bloody mayhem (I think the counselor was on the chopping block).  But I have to be honest, I think the film works better without additional deaths.  While Gemma begins to suspect M3gan's involvement later in the film, too many victims would lead the authorities to investigate the obvious link to Gemma.  And having them ignore the connection, through plot convenience, would have weakened the film.  

Besides, the studio's decision allowed the film to reach an audience.  Several fellow film-goers at the screening I attended were having a great time with M3gan's mayhem, even though I over-heard them hoping the movie wasn't too scary.  It might not have worked for me, but others enjoyed it, so I'm not going to condemn the film based on the rating alone.  Besides, PG-13 horror can work, as so many other films have proven.  

The studio has announced that an unrated version will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray.  But no additional mayhem is going to make me watch it again.  Enough R-rated horror exists to satisfy that itch and, as I said, too many kills would weaken the structure of the film. 

It's not perfect, but you might find M3gan to be a fine popcorn muncher film to watch on a rainy Northwest evening.   I think it could have been better, but Cthulhu knows I love films others hate, so who am I to judge.

Say what you will, I'm going back to doing my happy dance for getting a sequel in 2025.  I'm sure you'll be there.